Little Adventures

Little Barrier Island

I didn’t even want to try this route – until Martin had a go and got pretty high. It looked scary and there was a seal doing somersaults in the water below us. We were a long swim away from our little grassy picnic spot back around the coast. But you know how when your mate falls off something and you can sort of envisage the moves, and what the holds might feel like……well, on my second go at the crux, everything just clicked and I felt a good flow from there right up into the little finishing cave, climbing on sight, solo, on a first ascent, no ropes or chalk or gear, no sickly feeling that you’ll die if you fall off – just pulling moves on that beautiful smooth purple rock, seaweed swirling in the currents below, waiting for me to take the plunge…